Protocol for Studying Aqueous Outflow Facility from Anterior Eye Segments In Vitro as an Organ Culture Procedure

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Open-angle glaucoma is a neurodegenerative eye disease that is associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and affects millions of people worldwide. Since the raised IOP is the only risk factor that can be treated, much effort is being expended in finding novel ways to promote the efflux of aqueous humor (AQH) from the anterior chamber (ANC) of the eye. This is important for lowering and controlling IOP in order to prevent the loss of retinal ganglion cells and their axons, thereby slowing down vision loss. Even though several animal models have been developed to study the efficacy of new compounds to reduce ocular hypertension (OHT), such studies are labor-intensive and expensive. An in vitro model to permit similar kinds of investigations has been created using ANC segments of animal and human postmortem eyes. This system capitulates the in vivo situation and is easier to use and less expensive than the animal models. An organ culture model system and techniques will be described in this chapter.